Controller Advice

MALICE · Post by **MALICE** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:35 pm

guys -

wanted to get some feedback here if you don't mind. im looking for a new controller to work with ableton live (5) a bit more freely. ive been trying to narrow it down to a few decent controllers for around $200 & below...

now, i already have a full studio with tons of synths & an mpc that i use to control ableton as it is... but i need a controller to operate knobs, sliders etc... im also kinda limited on space...

ive narrowed it down to either...

A) Novation ReMOTE LE 25

or

B) M-Audio Evolution UC33e

anyone have any feedback on any of these 2 controllers? furthermore, can someone recommend perhaps something else that might fit what im looking for??

thanks in advance.

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:38 pm

Well, reg. option A, you do know that there is also the Remote Zero now, with no keys, thus a fair bit smaller - I'd go for that. Must be cheaper than the 25, no matter what, right?

MALICE · Post by **MALICE** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:41 pm

yeah i did see that...

the only difference is the 25 is on sale for $99.00 right now

i know, i know, no sense in being cheap right? im just going to regret it in the end....

is that new controller available yet? any idea on the price range?

i did a search & alot of guys dig the Behringer BCR2000... any recommends?

mr-e · Post by **mr-e** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:46 pm

don't go for the UC-33e , it's response is too slow

stealth1 · Post by **stealth1** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:51 pm

MALICE wrote:yeah i did see that...

the only difference is the 25 is on sale for $99.00 right now

i know, i know, no sense in being cheap right? im just going to regret it in the end....

is that new controller available yet? any idea on the price range?

i did a search & alot of guys dig the Behringer BCR2000... any recommends?

Where is it on sale for $99?

I've moaned about it in the past, but would definitely pick one up for that price!

MALICE · Post by **MALICE** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:52 pm

musiciansfriend.com --- it's the old style one.

MALICE · Post by **MALICE** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:55 pm

lemme ask you guys something...

if you had a choice (and i know this has probably been debated several times) between a BCF2000 or a BCR2000 which do you think is the better controller for L5?

right now, the BCR is about $65 bucks cheaper than the BCF... ive also been told the BCR is being discontinued.... any thoughts?

mcconaghy · Post by **mcconaghy** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:00 pm

I've been using the LE 25 for a while, it's pretty darn solid. Makes my old Oxygen 8 feel cheaper than a Casio, to be honest. It's got a little bit of weight to it, the controls and keys feel pretty good, and the editor soft is very nice. Not to mention that you have 9 knobs and buttons with 2 banks of controls for each. If I can figure out how to use more than 1 out of the 4 CCs on the XY pad in Live I'll be happy.
BTW, GC is selling it with free BassStation and VStation plugs, if that matters. I believe if you buy it elsewhere you only get the BassStation, but I could be wrong, they're the only ones advertising it.

MALICE · Post by **MALICE** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:10 pm

mcconaghy,

on the LE25, can you use the x/y touch pad thing to adjust parameters in say grain delay or something else that has that type of 'pad' setting?

ie: can i program that x/y pad to move around the little 'ball' in the grain delay audio effect. that was the 1st thing i thought of when i saw that...

thanks so much for you're guys' advice thus far. you're really helping me narrow it down....

mcconaghy · Post by **mcconaghy** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:27 pm

MALICE wrote:mcconaghy,

on the LE25, can you use the x/y touch pad thing to adjust parameters in say grain delay or something else that has that type of 'pad' setting?

ie: can i program that x/y pad to move around the little 'ball' in the grain delay audio effect. that was the 1st thing i thought of when i saw that...

thanks so much for you're guys' advice thus far. you're really helping me narrow it down....

Theoretically you can, the pad sends 4 different CC numbers and is divided into 4 zones, the problem is that Live (5.2 and 5.2.1) seems to be the only app I've tried that has a problem with assigning these 4 CCs, i.e. you assign one zone to a function, and when you try to assign the next zone you get an error asking if you want to override the last assign. Live seems to want to treat the pad as a one zone deal.
It works in any other app I've tried, i.e. Logic, most NI synths, VStation and BassStation, only Live has given me some problems with that so far.

EDIT: A real D'oh moment here - you can change the CC numbers of the pad inside the editor software, I just gave it a whirl, and it works.

MALICE · Post by **MALICE** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:39 pm

man, for $99 beans i think i might be sold on that bad boy...

the BCF looks like an awesome tool, but from what im reading looks like a (slight) PITA to program...

rbmonosylabik · Post by **rbmonosylabik** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:01 pm

I have a BCR and couldn't be happier with it. Lots of encoders and then some more, and they all feel very smooth. The top encoders row are also buttons, so you also have lots of buttons (8 knobs/buttons x 4 groups + 20 buttons).

You do have to read the manual to learn how to program it, but once you get the hang of it it's very easy. Maybe even easier and faster than doing it with the software editor.

Kodama · Post by **Kodama** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:09 pm

Buy a Novation Remote LE until 8/31 from Guitar Center, and get a free Novation V-Station VST!

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/produc ... sku=702653

ProducerDJ · Post by **ProducerDJ** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:42 pm

I'm go with the BCR2000. Although I was told @ Guitar Center here in LA that it was coded to be discontinued, it still has the best bang for the buck! Never know, the good ole folks at Behringer may come out with a new one in 2007! I'll keep my knobs crossed for that to be the case!

rbmonosylabik · Post by **rbmonosylabik** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:30 pm

Discontinuing the BCR2000 sounds like a stupid idea. It's one of their few products that is actually quality.